E- Waste

An Indian Perspective

E-Waste- An Indian Perspective

 E-Waste

Electronic waste or e-waste is any broken or

unwanted electrical or electronic appliance.

E-waste includes computers, entertainment

electronics, mobile phones and other items
that have been discarded by their original
users.

E-Waste- An Indian Perspective

 Problems
• E-waste is the most rapidly growing
waste problem in the world. world
• It is a crisis of not quantity alone but also a crisis born
from
toxics ingredients
, posing a threat to the occupational health as well
as the environment
.
• Rapid technology change, low initial cost, high
obsolescence rate have resulted in a fast growing
problem around the globe.
• Legal framework, proper collection system missing.
• Imports regularly coming to the recycling markets.
• Inhuman working conditions for recycling.
E-Waste- An Indian Perspective
recycling
 E-Waste: Growth
IT and telecom are two fastest growing industries in
the country.

• India, by 2008, should achieve a PC penetration of 65

per 1,000 from the existing 14 per 1,000 (MAIT)
• At present, India has 15 million computers. The target
being 75 million computers by 2010.#
• Over 2 million old PCs ready for disposal in India.
• Life of a computer reduced from 7 years to 3-5 years.

# Source:http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=13910603,

E-Waste- An Indian Perspective

 E-Waste: Growth
• Over 75 million current mobile users, expected to
increase to 200 million by 2007 end.*
• Memory devices, MP3 players, iPods etc. are the
newer additions.
• Preliminary estimates suggest that total WEEE
generation in India is approximately 1,46,000 tonnes
per year. #

# Source: http://www.e-waste.in/about_/
* Source: Hindu

E-Waste- An Indian Perspective

 E-Waste: Growth

Three categories of WEEE account for almost

90% of the generation:

Large Household appliances: 42.1%

Information and communications: 33.9%

technology equipment

Consumer Electronics: 13.7%

E-Waste- An Indian Perspective

 E-Waste: Main Sources
 Imports;

 Govt., public and private sector discards (over

70%);

 PC retailers, manufacturers;

 Secondary market of old PCs; and

 Individual Households.

E-Waste- An Indian Perspective

 E-Waste Hazards
Average PC of approx. 31.5 kg Two million Obsolete
wt. contains: PCs would mean:
7.24 kg - Plastics  14,427,000 kg
1.98 kg - Lead  3,962,700 kg
0.693g - Mercury  1,386 kg
0.4095g - Arsenic  819 kg
2.961g - Cadmium  5,922 kg
1.98g -  3,969 kg
Chromium  19,845 kg
9.92g - Barium  9,891 kg
4.94g - Beryllium
E-Waste- An Indian Perspective
 Existing Legislation
• Trans boundary movement of E waste covered
under the Basel convention.
• India ratified the convention in 1992.
• Waste listed in list A and list B which prohibits
such movements.
• Waste importers exploit such gaps as listed in the
convention.
• Allowed to import against a license.

E-Waste- An Indian Perspective

 Existing Legislation…
• Covered under the “Hazardous Waste Amended
Rules, 2003” in List A and B of Schedule 3.

• The Rule is inadequate to handle

generation,transportation and disposal of this
complex waste
• Regulators unable to monitor and regulate the
informal sector.

• DGFT and Foreign Trade Policy 2002-07 trade and

licensing – not under free imports.

E-Waste- An Indian Perspective

 Need for Legal Framework


Ban on total imports of E waste.


Domestic legal framework to address these gaps
in import of E Waste


Need to address safe disposal of domestic waste.


Tie recycling in with take-back product
responsibility.

E-Waste- An Indian Perspective

 Ingredients of legislation
 The Framework should address the issue of
E waste imports for reuse and recycling.

 Attract investment in this sector

 Link up activities of informal sector with

formal sector

 Provide for appropriate framework for

processes

E-Waste- An Indian Perspective

 Ingredients of legislation Contd…

 Promote adequate ESM technologies for recycling

 Incorporate precautionary principles and polluter

pays

 Concept of EPR

 Adopt Consultative process

E-Waste- An Indian Perspective

 Thank you

For further information contact:

Toxics Link
H-2 Jungpura Extension
New Delhi- 110014
www.toxicslink.org
Phone: 24320711/8006
Email: info@toxicslink.org

E-Waste- An Indian Perspective

E-Waste- An Indian Perspective
E-Waste- An Indian Perspective
E-Waste- An Indian Perspective